https://climateriskmap.environment.gov.ag

National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).

The National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) was established in Antigua and Barbuda in 1984 as a division in the Ministry of Health and Home Affairs following a Cabinet decision.

It started with the National Disaster Coordinator as a single full-time staff, and moved to a staff compliment of 16.

The office was first located in the Home Affairs Building on St John’s Street before relocating in 1990 to American Road, where it is still situated.

In 2002, the House of Representatives passed the National Disaster Legislation.

Since the inception of NODS, the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has been activated during the passage of Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and provided support for Montserrat when that territory’s volcano erupted in 1995.
The NEOC was again activated for Tropical Storms Iris and Marilyn and Hurricane Luis in 1995, Hurricane Georges in 1998, Hurricane Jose and Tropical Storm Lenny in 1999, Tropical Storm Omar in 2008 and Hurricane Earl in 2010.

The Pan Caribbean Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Project (PCDPPP), which preceded the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), ended its operation in Antigua in 1991. As a result, the Caribbean took ownership of Disaster Management in the region that same year through the formation of CDERA, which has since been renamed the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).

In 1991, four sub-regional focal points were established – Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago.

Antigua and Barbuda has focal point responsibility for Anguilla, the Virgin Islands, Montserrat and St Kitts/Nevis.

National Office of Disaster Services

PO. Box 1399, American Road
St. John’s Antigua.
Tel: 268-462-4206 | Int: 268-562-2144 / 460-7075
Fax: 462-4742
Email: nodsanu@gmail.com

Other focal points and their assigned islands:

Barbados: Dominica, St Lucia, St Vincent
Trinidad: Tobago, Guyana, Grenada, Suriname
Jamaica: Belize, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and Haiti 

Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA)

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is the new name of the regional disaster management body formerly known as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), which operated from 1991 to August 2009. The official date of transition from CDERA to CDEMA was September 1, 2009.

Governance Mechanism

When one speaks of “CDEMA”, this refers to the region-wide organisation. CDEMA comprises:

• The Co-ordinating Unit, which is the CDEMA secretariat, headquartered in Barbados
  18 National Disaster Organisations, one in each of the participating states and
  A Technical Advisory Committee, comprising the 18 heads of each National Disaster Organisation. The TAC serves in a technical advisory capacity and makes recommendations to the Management Committee of Council (MCC) on the Agency’s Work Programme, Administrative Budget and any other major policy decisions required
• Management Committee of Council which is the administrative area of council
• A council, which is the supreme policy making body. It comprises the Heads of Government of the participating states and meets annually to review the work of the agency, approve its Work Programme and Administrative Budget and make any other major policy decisions required.

Functions of CDEMA

(a) Mobilizing and coordinating disaster relief
(b) Mitigating or eliminating, as far as practicable, the immediate consequences of disasters in participating states
(c) Providing immediate and coordinated response by means of emergency disaster relief to any affected participating state
(d) Securing, coordinating and providing to interested inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations reliable and comprehensive information on disasters affecting any participating state
(e) Encouraging –
(i) The adoption of disaster loss reduction and mitigation policies and practices at the national and regional level
(ii) Cooperative arrangements and mechanisms to facilitate the development of a culture of disaster loss reduction and
(f) Coordinating the establishment, enhancement and maintenance of adequate emergency disaster response capabilities among the participating states

Sub-regional focal points

To better deliver an efficient response, the 18 CDEMA Participating States are grouped into four-sub-regions, each of which is headed by an operation unit known as a Sub-regional Focal Point. The functions of each focal point are to:

• Acquire and maintain on an updated basis comprehensive information on the facilities and services available in each of the participating states for which they bear responsibility;
• Maintain and test, on a regular basis, communications with the Coordinating Unit and with critical response agencies under the control of national relief organizations;
• Maintain independent fuel and power supplies and ensure that relevant physical facilities are in a condition to withstand a major disaster;
• Keep and maintain, at the operational focal point, in serviceable and optimal working condition an equipment package containing essential items determined by the Board of Directors, subject to the approval of Council.

Sub-regional structure at-a-glance

Membership
Anguilla, Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos, Haiti, Suriname

Eligibility
Membership is not restricted to the English-speaking Caribbean. The agreement establishing CDERA makes explicit provision for any Caribbean State to apply for membership.

Applications for membership are to be submitted to the Coordinating Unit. Admission is subject to approval by the Council on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.

National Disaster Organisations
The agreement requires that each participating state establish or maintain a National Disaster Organisation (NDO) or a national relief organization capable of responding swiftly, effectively and in a coordinated manner to disasters in participating states. This is the government-designated organisation which has overall responsibility for the country’s National Disaster Management Programme.

The NDOs have the primary responsibility for coordinating national-level response to disasters in their respective countries.

They are also the national focal points for CDEMA’s activities in participating states. The NDOs are headed by the National Disaster Coordinator (NDC) who is a government official responsible for the day-to-day management of the organization. The actual name and structure of the NDO and the title and terms of appointment of the NDC varies from country to country.

Comprehensive Disaster Management
With more than US$5 BILLION in losses to the Caribbean in the last two decades of the 20th century, the agency has refocused its attention on Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM), a new thrust for the 21st century.
CDM is an integrated approach to disaster management, efficiently utilising dedicated resources in an environment where roles and functions are clearly defined and accepted by all stakeholders in all phases of disaster management.
This strategy has been endorsed by all member states and accepted by the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) which will see it being promoted in the Latin American states of the ACS. At the crux of CDM is a well informed and aware public and activities to achieve full compliance with CDM at the heart of the CDEMA operation.

This operation includes:

• Training for Disaster Management Personnel
• Development of model training courses
• Institutional Strengthening for Disaster Management Organisations
• Development of model Disaster Legislation for adaptation and adoption by Participating States
• Development of model policies and guidelines for use in emergencies
• Contingency planning
• Resource mobilization for strengthening disaster management programmes in participating states
• Improving emergency telecommunications and warning systems
• Development of Disaster Information and Communication systems
• Education and Public Awareness

This requires strong collaboration among all stakeholders especially where resources are limited.

Assess the impact of Climate Change on Antigua and Barbuda

The Climate Change Risk Modelling project is a one-year project funded by the Department of Environment (DOE), Government of Antigua and Barbuda under its National Adaptation Planning progress with a grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). The objectives of the project are

• To assess available data on exposure, hazard, and vulnerability
• To model the impacts of climate change
• To assess current and future risk from tropical cyclones (wind and storm surge), drought (increased temperatures and low precipitation), marine heat waves, and sea level rise.

The project reviewed and assessed available hazard data, developed climate risk maps that integrate downscaled climate projections with risk models for hazards that affect Antigua and Barbuda. Changes in climate patterns and meteorological parameters was evaluated the UK Met Office (in partnership with the DOE, and Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, CEFAS) from its work on the downscaling of climate change projections.

The project was implemented by a consortium of five organizations with expertise spanning from to climate hazard and risk modelling, remote sensing, from disaster risk reduction to policy advice. The organizations involved include ImageCat (lead agency), Kinetic Analysis Corporation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, Willis Towers Watson, and the UK Met Office.

Geoportal

Antigua and Barbuda

Introduction to Antigua and Barbuda

Barbuda, a small Caribbean island nation situated north of Venezuela, has a population of 94,000,1 of which 76% is rural.2 A twin-island state composed of its two main namesake islands, Antigua and Barbuda is among the smallest countries in the world. Due to its small size, the country has a uniform tropical rainforest climate across its islands.3 The country is considered a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) primarily comprised of low-lying coastal zones, making it extremely vulnerable to climate change impacts including sea level rise and extreme weather events like tropical storms and hurricanes.4 The capital city, Saint John, houses around 26% of the population and many of the country’s critical economic and political infrastructure, threatening existing and future coastal developments.5 The services sector contributes to 67.8% of GDP, followed by the industry and agriculture sectors at 19.4% and 1.9%, respectively.6 The country is predominantly of African descent at 87.3% of the population, with smaller communities of mixed, Hispanic, and White individuals making up the rest.7  
 

Mapping Major Climate Events and Climate-Induced Displacement

Antigua and Barbuda is highly vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis, being considered among the world’s top four most vulnerable countries.8 Due to its location on the “hurricane belt” and its low-lying coastlines, the country is especially vulnerable to sea level rise, rising temperatures, and irregular precipitation patterns.9 Between 1950 and 2014, the country witnessed over 503 disasters that directly affected 33,874 people and indirectly affected another 2.18 million.10 One of the worst years for the country was in 2017, when Hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria hit especially hard, causing 1.5% of its population—1,400 people—to be displaced and over 81% of buildings and infrastructure to be destroyed.11 This sudden disaster caused a third of the country to become inhabitable and thousands of individuals to evacuate from Barbuda to Antigua, putting immense stress on the people and existing infrastructure and resources on the island.12 The country faces a 33% chance of at least one hurricane affecting it annually,13 and under a mid-range climate change scenario, cyclones that hit Antigua and Barbuda are expected to become more intense with an increase in wind speed of 2-11%.14 Future projections show that the country may experience an estimated 3,366 displacements annually due to such extreme weather events and trends.15 The country is also becoming drier, with a 45.1% probability of at least one drought occuring in a year, and a 15.1% probability of a severe drought occuring in a year.16 This makes Antigua and Barbuda one of the most water-stressed countries in the Caribbean. For example, in 2014  Potworks Dam was only 10% full, which had enormous implications because it is the largest reservoir in the Caribbean and supplies Antigua’s drinking water and holds two-thirds of the entire island’s water supply.17 By 2015, this resulted in the country’s desalinated water consumption rising from 60% to over 90%.13  

Mapping the Costs of the Climate Crisis

The GDP of Antigua and Barbuda is $2.03 billion,18 while the GDP per capita is $21,787.19 Although the country is small and developing, it has a relatively high standard of living and a high human development rating that is heavily dependent on the tourism industry,20 which currently accounts for 80% of GDP and 70% of all employment.21 This reliance makes tourism a single-point failure for the country that can be exposed to the coming impacts of the climate crisis.With a higher frequency of coastal erosion, increased rainfall, hurricanes, and natural disasters, there will likely be reduced numbers of visitors and more significant damage to key tourist infrastructure, ultimately resulting in a substantial economic loss.22 When looking at the direct damages of past natural disasters, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria caused nearly $136.1 million in direct damages, while estimated recovery costs are well above $220 million.13 Droughts also have a massive impact on the agricultural sector, as hotter temperatures are drying up the surface and groundwater catchments, hurting crop yields and livestock farming—an industry worth nearly $40 million.23

Mapping Resilience and Mitigation Pathways

Despite being responsible for less than 0.01% of global GHG emissions, Antigua and Barbuda is still among one of the most vulnerable to the effects of the climate crisis.24 On a domestic level, the country’s NDC sees the transition to a clean, fossil fuel economy as one of its main priorities. By 2030, Antigua and Barbuda aims to reach 86% renewable energy generation in the electricity sector and to have 100% of all new vehicle sales be electric.25 Beyond 2030, the twin-island state wants to see a complete phase-out of fossil fuel use in the power sector, a continued increase in storage capacity, and the possible development of dispatchable renewable electricity generation.26 By 2030, with the necessary resources and funding from other international actors, they aim to protect all domestic waterways from the risk of flooding and health impacts while providing a unique, affordable insurance plan for farmers, fishers, and business owners who will face losses from the climate crisis.27 By 2050, seawater desalination capacity will also be 50% greater than 2015.15 The country is also a key advocate for international climate action, holding the SIDS seat on the Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board and a chair position in the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).28 The country is also heavily involved in the international debt-for-climate swaps program, which allows creditor nations to write off or discount their national debt and direct these payments to fund climate action initiatives.29

Necessary Changes

Although Antigua and Barbuda has already taken several preemptive measures to address the climate crisis, it must continue to identify and implement new adaptations in the future. These include cutting emissions where possible, such as in the energy and land use, land-use change, and forestry (LULUCF) sectors, as they account for 76% and 22% of total emissions.30 Since the tourism industry is vital to the country’s economy, adaptations must be made to sustainable tourism initiatives. This includes developing new climate-resilient infrastructure like hurricane-resistant hotels and better drainage systems, conducting eco-tourism activities like hiking and birdwatching, and strengthening and preparing early warning systems for disasters.31 The country also needs a more unified governmental front, as the transportation, household, agriculture, and social services departments do not have a tangible agreement that defines specific roles and responsibilities between health and climate change policy.13 However, Antigua and Barbuda may face severe challenges securing resources and funding because it is classified as a SIDS. A SIDS not only has limited annual tax revenue but is also limited by human, technical, and infrastructural resources that prevent it from fully implementing its mitigation and adaptation strategies.30 It is estimated that it will cost the twin-island state between $1 to $1.7 billion for its mitigation and adaptation actions to be fully implemented.32  

Citations

• 1“Population, total – Antigua and Barbuda,”  The World Bank, February 8, 2025,
  https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.POP.TOTL?locations=AG.
• 2 Rural Population, total – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank, accessed February 8, 2025,
  https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SP.RUR.TOTL.ZS?locations=AG.
• 3 “Climate Change Knowledge Portal – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank, accessed February 8, 2025,
  https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/antigua-and-barbuda.
• 4“Antigua and Barbuda Country Profile,” Climahealth, accessed February 9, 2025,
  https://climahealth.info/country/antigua-and-barbuda/.
• 5“Antigua and Barbuda,” PAHO, accessed February 9, 2025,
  https://www.paho.org/en/antigua-and-barbuda#:~:text=Antigua%20and%20Bar….
• 6“Antigua and Barbuda – The World Factbook,” CIA, accessed February 9, 2025,
  https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/antigua-and-barbuda/.
• 7Ibid (i)
• 8“Migration, Environment, Disaster and Climate Change Data in the Eastern Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda Country Analysis,” University of Groningen, accessed February 9, 2025,
  https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/migration-environment-disaster-….
• 9 “Climate Change Knowledge Portal – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank.
• 10“Antigua and Barbuda Country Analysis,” IOM, accessed February 10, 2025,
  https://publications.iom.int/system/files/pdf/MECC-Antigua-and-Barbuda-….
• 11Ibid (ii)
• 12“Fighting for Survival: Four small islands on the frontline of climate change,” ReliefWeb, accessed February 10, 2025,
  https://reliefweb.int/report/antigua-and-barbuda/fighting-survival-four….
• 13a b c d  “Antigua and Barbuda Country Profile,” Climahealth.
• 14Ibid (iii)
• 15a b Ibid (iiii)
• 16  “Antigua and Barbuda Country Profile,” Climahealth.
• 17“Potworks Reservoir,” Antigua Nice, accessed February 10, 2025,
  https://www.antiguanice.com/client.php?id=446#:~:text=This%20expanse%20….
• 18“GDP (current US$) – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?locations=AG.
• 19 “GDP per capita (current US$) – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=AG.
• 20“Antigua and Barbuda country profile,” BBC, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-18706079#:~:text=Antigua%2….
• 21“Antigua and Barbuda Country Gender Scorecard,” The World Bank, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/822421645769028203/pdf/Anti….
• 22“Climate Change Knowledge Portal – Antigua and Barbuda,” The World Bank.
   
• 23“Antigua And Barbuda – Agriculture, Value Added,” Trading Economics, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://tradingeconomics.com/antigua-and-barbuda/agriculture-value-adde….
• 24“Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Antigua and Barbuda,” Emission Index, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://www.emission-index.com/countries/antigua-and-barbuda.
• 25“IGES NDC Database,”  Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/iges-indc-ndc-database/en
• 26“Antigua and Barbuda’s national greenhouse gas reduction report,” Climate Analytics, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://climateanalytics.org/publications/antigua-and-barbudas-national….
• 27“Antigua and Barbuda’s First Biennial Update Report,” UNFCCC, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Antigua%20and%20Barbuda…
• 28“Navigating climate finance as a small island state: Lessons from Antigua and Barbuda,” Commonwealth Secretariat, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://www.preventionweb.net/news/navigating-climate-finance-small-isl….
• 29Ibid (V)
• 30a b  “Antigua and Barbuda’s First Biennial Update Report,” UNFCCC.
• 31“Antigua Green Tourism Initiatives Leading the Way to Eco-Friendly Travel,” Book Antigua, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://bookantigua.travel/antigua-green-tourism/#:~:text=The%20festiva….
• 32“Antigua and Barbdua Updated Nationally Determined Contribution,” UNFCCC, accessed February 11, 2025,
  https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/NDC/2022-06/ATG%20-%20UNFCCC%20N….

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